Simplify the Scene

Landscape shots tend to get very messy. There’s often a lot going on, which is why simplifying your scene can make your image so much stronger. Take a stream, for example. There are often lots of sticks and leaves and twigs and tree branches and all sorts of distracting elements that are in that stream, so the viewer isn’t actually sure where they should be looking. If you simplify the scene and avoid as much clutter as you can, getting the image down to just a few elements, it makes for a really strong image. If you have the choice of a ridge top with either a clump of trees or one single tree, the shot with that one single tree will almost undoubtedly be the strongest. Simple shots have great power to connect with the viewer, and keeping your scenes simple and uncluttered will help you create images with great depth and visual interest. This is one of those “less is more” type of things.